Rub' al Khali
The Rub' al Khali (Arabic: ٱلرُّبْع ٱلْخَالِي, the "Empty Quarter") is a sandy desert that encompasses much of the Arabian Peninsula. The desert lies within the borders of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and many of the former Gulf states.
Until the mid 2030s, the countries of Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates were located in the Rub' al Khali. However, climate change-induced weather changes caused significant damage to these states, effectively rendering them uninhabitable. While some cities like Doha and Abu Dhabi were able to be saved with extreme geo-engineering in the 2040s, the crown jewel of the peninsula, Dubai, was swallowed by sandstorms and had to be evacuated. The encroachment of the desert into these cities left the Gulf states politically vulnerable, and in the early 2050s, were absorbed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The northern parts of the Rub' al Khali have fared better in recent years, especially with heavy Saudi investment. Before oil markets collapsed in the 2030s, the Saudi government had invested heavily into solar energy. As such, the Rub' al Khali provides much of the energy of the Middle East at low cost - a ploy by Saudi Arabia to draw nations away from its rival in Iran.
In the southwest of the desert, despite being wracked by civil war for nearly two decades, Yemen was able to withstand the desertification and climate disruption, maintaining its independence.
Until the mid 2030s, the countries of Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates were located in the Rub' al Khali. However, climate change-induced weather changes caused significant damage to these states, effectively rendering them uninhabitable. While some cities like Doha and Abu Dhabi were able to be saved with extreme geo-engineering in the 2040s, the crown jewel of the peninsula, Dubai, was swallowed by sandstorms and had to be evacuated. The encroachment of the desert into these cities left the Gulf states politically vulnerable, and in the early 2050s, were absorbed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The northern parts of the Rub' al Khali have fared better in recent years, especially with heavy Saudi investment. Before oil markets collapsed in the 2030s, the Saudi government had invested heavily into solar energy. As such, the Rub' al Khali provides much of the energy of the Middle East at low cost - a ploy by Saudi Arabia to draw nations away from its rival in Iran.
In the southwest of the desert, despite being wracked by civil war for nearly two decades, Yemen was able to withstand the desertification and climate disruption, maintaining its independence.
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